What is the purpose of ‘Enter Key’ in MS Excel?

The correct answer is: Moves cell pointer to next row

Key Points

    In MS Excel, the Enter key primarily serves two purposes:

• Confirming Data Entry: When you finish typing in a cell and press Enter, it confirms the input.
• Moving the Cell Pointer: By default, pressing Enter moves the active cell pointer down to the next row within the same column.                                                                   Why is Option 4 Correct?

1. When you press Enter after typing in a cell, Excel automatically shifts the selection to the cell directly below (next row, same column).
2. This is the default behavior unless manually changed in Excel Options (File → Options → Advanced → Editing Options).

Additional InformationIn addition to moving the cell pointer to the next row, the 'Enter Key' in MS Excel has some other functionalities depending on how it's used and the specific settings within Excel:

1. Editing Mode : If you are in the process of editing a cell, pressing 'Enter' will complete the entry and move the cell pointer down to the next row.
2. Combining with Shift : If you hold down the 'Shift' key while pressing 'Enter', the cell pointer will move up to the previous row instead.
3. Customizing Movement : In Excel's options, you can customize the behavior of the 'Enter Key' to move in different directions after data entry, such as right, left, or up.
4. Formulas and Functions : When entering formulas or functions, pressing 'Enter' will complete the formula and move to the next row, allowing for efficient data entry in cells containing calculations.

These additional functionalities make the 'Enter Key' versatile and useful for a variety of data entry tasks in MS Excel, enhancing productivity and making the workflow smoother.